Finding the perfect Christmas or holiday gift can often be quite a challenge. Regardless of whether the gift is for your spouse, friend, parent, son or daughter, boss or distance relative, with so many options it’s hard to determine where to even start your shopping search. Instead of buying a generic item from a random department store this holiday season, it’s time to get thoughtful. From small stocking stuffers to more expensive offerings, if you’re looking for the perfect gift for a local San Antonian then you’ve come to the right place.
To help you on your quest to find the perfect gift, we’ve compiled a list of 10 of the most thoughtful gift ideas for San Antonians. The best part about this list? It’s all filled with items from your local San Antonio businesses. So this Christmas, you won’t just be giving a gift with meaning, you’ll also be supporting your local small businesses. Give big, and shop local!
1. A gift card to a local San Antonio Restaurant
Who doesn’t love food? The gift of a good meal is gift that anyone will be thankful for. This Christmas spread the love for San Antonio’s food and culture by giving away a gift card to one of your favorite local restaurants. Whether it’s located downtown or on the River Walk, you can’t go wrong. Here are a few restaurant suggestions to get you started:
2. A souvenir from a favorite local San Antonio Brewery
If you happened to read our article, The Best Local Breweries in San Antonio, then you already know that this is one city filled with craft beer lovers. For the craft beer lover in your life, why not drop some cash to give them a gift from their favorite local brewery. From a simple six pack, to a growler, or maybe even a souvenir glass or t-shirt. The options are endless—or should we say, bottom-less.
3. Cowboy/Cowgirl Boots
Nothing says Texas like a good ‘ole pair of cowboy (or cowgirl) boots. With plenty of different colors and styles to choose from, there’s something for everyone. These boots aren’t just made for walking; they’re made for gifting. Here are a few local San Antonio boot stores you might want to explore:
3. Tickets to a San Antonio Spurs Basketball Game
There’s bound to be one crazy sports fan in every family, and in San Antonio, Texas, there’s only one team that really matters: the San Antonio Spurs. While a hat, jersey, t-shirt, and sweatshirt are all great gifts in their own right, there’s one thing that all Spurs fan are wishing for this holiday season—tickets to watch their favorite team play at home in AT&T Arena. This December you have a chance to put a smile on someone’s face and another fan in the stands to cheer on the Spurs. To buy tickets, visit the San Antonio Spurs.
4. A Bike from Blue Star Bike Shop
If you want to see your child’s face light up on Christmas morning, then you need to visit the Blue Star Bike Shop to pick out their new wheels. Combined with the Blue Star Brewing Company brewpub, the bike shop offers a variety of styles including Electra cruisers, BMX bikes, road bikes, brooks saddles and bags, electric assist bicycles and much, much more. Finding the perfect gift starts with finding the perfect ride. To find out more, visit Blue Star Bike Shop.
5. A Coffee Mug or Travel Mug from Rosella Coffee Company
When you’re in need of a last minute stocking stuffer, a nice coffee mug will always do the trick. Located in downtown San Antonio, Rosella Coffee Company has a wide variety of coffee options in addition to souvenir mugs, travel mugs, and t-shirts for all the coffee lovers in your life. They even sell individual bags of their premium roasts to go along with your mug. To pick out yours today, visit Rosella Coffee Company.
A Book from The Twig Book Shop
Winter is the best time of the year to cuddle up next to the fire with a cup of hot chocolate, a warm blanket, and of course, a good book. Forget Amazon and Barnes and Noble, next time you’re looking for a book visit the Twig Book Shop, founded in 1972. The Twig offers a special Texana collection that is sure to please the history buffs in your family. To find out more, check out The Twig.
A painting from a local San Antonio art gallery
San Antonio is known for being a city with a vibrant cultural heritage and a hot spot for thriving local artists. With so many museums, galleries, and markets in the San Antonio area, it’s easy to fall in love with the local art. This holiday season browse through some of the city’s art galleries to find a piece of art that makes you fall in love. Here’s a list of a few local galleries to get you started:
Tickets to a play at Majestic Empire Theatre
The holiday season is a time when many flock into the theatre to see some of their favorite classical Christmas plays, like the Nutcracker, A Christmas Carol, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and many others. If you’re in the mood to go to see a play or maybe watch a comedy show, and if you’re interested in giving someone tickets to attend the show with you, then the Majestic Empire Theatre is the place to go.
A handcrafted item from the El Mercado Shops
With three blocks lined with shops, restaurants, and produce stands, the El Mercado Shops offer everything from handcrafted dresses, belts, and jewelry, to paintings, pottery, and other local artisan goods. You’ll have no trouble finding a present that comes straight from the heart. Find out more about the El Mercado Shops in our San Antonio Shopping article.